Automatic circular-knitting machine.



J D HEMPHILL AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1908. 935,981

Patnted 0ct.5,1909.

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JID. HEMPHILL. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1908.

Patented Oct.5, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

To 5km @352 r in i. w r ll i rid i orricn JOSHUA. 1). HEHPHILL, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTUMATIC CERCULfirB-KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed To all whom it may Be it known that E, JOSHUA'D. Henrmnn, a citizep of the United States of America, and a residentof Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode island, have invented certain new and useful linprovemcnts in Automatic Circular-Knitting Machines, ofvwhi-ch the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to automatic circular knitting-machines, an an ample of the latter being shown and described in my pending parent application. Serial No. 308,106, filed in the U. 5%. iatent Office. In said application the needles and sinkers are mounted in and rotate bodily with the knitting-cylinder while at the same time the cams, &c., for controlling the action of the needles and sinkers remain practically stationary.

The present invention is well adapted to be employed in connection with a revol'nble knitting-cylinder and a plurality of auto matically controlled yarn-feeding devices for placing one or more of the knitting yarns into and out of action at predetermined points during the knitting say of the stockmg.

The invention herewith consists essentially of means devised and arranged for receiving thetemporarily inactive yarn or yarns and clamping or binding it in a relatively stationary position within the area of the cylinders chamber or bore until the yarn is again l'iroughtinto the knitting position, the conjoint action or the cylinder and its needles then causing the yarn to be freed or released from the binding device and knitted into the fabric in a normal manner. it may be added thirt the thuwrlamped floatingy-arn remains integral and is not parted or severed during: the production of the stockingr V In knitting-machines as sometimes devised the temporarily inactive or limiting yarns are guided to a relatively small continuously open eye-shaped space located at or near the center of the cylinder where they are free to move about laterally within the limits of the circumsrribed open space but still being connected to the work and hobbins under more or less tension. The varnfeeding means is adapted to reintroduce the floating yarn, then supposedly being non mally supported in the said open eye, from the latter to the books of the needles at the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, Mill.

l tre 222, 1393. Serial No. 434,283.

which are liable to break the needles when,v

the yarn is brought into knitting action; sometimes the floating yarns become entangled with one another so that the act of returning the proper yarn to the normal knitting position will break it off before it becomes looped onto the needles.

The object I have in view is to provide ki'iitting-nmchines with yarn-engaging means for positively clamping or securely holding the floating yarn, or yarns, in the inactive position until it is reintroduced to the needles. 'lhe thus secured yarn is neither untwislcd or twisted nor acted'upon in any degree between the said clampin or binding means'aud the yarn-carrying obbin. In other words the yarn use (whether it be heavy or light, soft or hard twisted, or strong or tender) is unatlected in any manner whatever while it is floating and positively cmuincd in my improved device, and is reintroiluced to the needles in its normal condition. the result iust stated is equally adaptable to knitting-niacinnes having revoluble knittingarylimlcrs and stationary cam-rings, or stationary knitt-ing-cylinderand revoluble cam-rings.

in the :ux-ompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure. 1 is a substantially central transverse sectional view, taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2, showing my present invention as applied to a knitting-machine employing a re'voluhle muting-cylinder;- only the parts intimately associated or cooperating with the invention being represented; the device being shown in the closed or normal position. Fig. 2 represents acorresponding top plan, view, the necdl'ea-ylinder, needles and sinkers being omitted. Fig. 3 is a transverse sentional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. e is a similar view taken on line 4 4 l'" 2. Fig. 5 is an end'elevati'ion of the device showing it in the temporarily open The means employed to effect or elevated position to receive the inactive or floating arn; the latter being indicated by the broken line, and Fig. 0 is a yertical sectional view, in greatly reduced scale, taken on line (5 (3 of Fig. 1, showing mechanism for controlling the movements of the yarnguides or arn-feeders, and also adapted to open or position the clamping means to receive the inactive yarn. I

I will now first describe the illustrated elements of the knitting machine with which my present invention is well adapted to cooperate: To the upper portion of the revoluble knitting-cylinder N is removably secured the outer concentric sinker-ring a, 'said members being constructed to receive, support and carry needles n and sinkers o in a well-known manner. The arrows represented in Figs. 1 and 2 show the direction of rotation of the needle-cylinder when making circular work. A practically stationary cap-ring G surmonnts the said sinker-ring; in the former is mounted a guided fiat radially or endwise movable sinker-cam w having an outer extension against \vhiclrbears an inwardly pressing fiat spring a Corr tiguous to and at the right of the cylinder is located a stationary standard K, in the upper part of which a plurality of horizontally disposed fingers f age pivoted; the outer ends of the latter are hooked or jointed to downwardly extending wire links each in turn being jointed to the rear end or the respective tilting-levers f (see Fig. (3); the,

front or free ends of these levers are in normal sliding contact with a corresponding rib f or with the barrel proper of the drum or cylinder f secured to a cam-shaft 8 adapted to be rotated in step-by-step manner in the arrow direction by mechanism not shown A pivoted manually movable latch-- ring C is disposed above and concentric with the knittingcylinder, its inner face when in use being close to the front of the upper portion of the circular column of needles. Said ring has a pair of parallel lateral arms integral therewith joined together at the outer end and resting (when in the normally dropped position) on the upper end of and being supported by the said standard K. The yarn-guides proper or feeders, (1, (three being represented) are horizontally pivoted in said arms, each being pressed by a spring (1 The inner or free end of each yarnguide has an eye (1* through which a yarn is threaded. When the yarn is in the normal knitting position the correspoiuling guide rests upon the bottom throatplate at of the ring C; the edge of the plate being located in front ofand contiguous to the needles. See Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the yarn engagingdot ire forming the subject of this invention: To the latch-ring (.l is secured by screws a downwardly bent arm F s. 1. and 3, so as to properly position or bracket 0 having its. inner or free end portion extending into the chamber of the knitting-cylinder and tern'iinating in a coinparatively large flat horizontal thin plate 15; the latter being located substantially even with orjust below the plane of said throatplate 01, and having the adjacent edge? of the two plates separated by a narrow annular-like space a in which the needles travel. The plate 13 is provided with a continuously open recess 8 formed contiguous to the side of said bracket, a-s clearly shown in 2. The plate is made comparatively long, see the .ioating yarn thereon with respect to needles at the instant it (the yarn) brought or dropped into knitting action ;'the plate positions the yarn irrespective of the direction of rotation of the cylinder. if desired the plate B may be an independent member secured to the bracket in lieu of being integral with it. A. suitably bentv swinging clamping or binding member A, it may be termed, of wire is disposed on the upper side,of said plate, its inner end por- As drawn, the wire is bent 'at right angleswith the part a to form the shank a, then bent rearwardly and substantially parallel with the part a to produce the horizontal clamping member proper, :1 which latter termimites in the short upwardly bent yarndellecting arm (1 An operating lever 7) is secured to the outer end of the said part a and extends upwardly therefrom at an angle and terminates in the horizontal bar part 7) located above and projecting in front across the said yarn-guides, the arrangement being such that whenever the latter are elevated (one or more as the case may be) to throw the yarn, or yarns, out of action the corresponding guide el'igages said bar part and temporarily lifts the lever, thereby swinginp the clamp a upwardly a relative distance to freely permit the entrance thereunder of the thus elevated yarn or yarns. Fig. 5 represents the corresponding position. in

order to provide means for accurately adjusting the lever, 7). with respect to the yarn-guides its hub is extended laterally and slotted, thus Forming ears 7); a screw 71 passing through them securing the lever in the adjusted position. A light helical spring f attached to a member of the latch-ring and to the lever 7; is employed tor-normally imiiutaining the clamp A in yiehling frictional contact with the plate Ii, being the closed position, whenever the yarivguide is dropped away from the lever, see Fig. l.

The yarn-bimling member it-is providtal at or near the rear end of its part 1. (with respect to the direction of rotation ol the needleaeyliuder) with a small laterally exlemling fixed bcnt lingcr it having its free the t end arranged to freely enter av registering hole formed vertically in the plate 15. See

Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The function of this device is to prevent the knitting-yarn from passing by the finger without becoming wedged under the binder a as for example, when the yarn last referred to is being knitted into the foot. of the stocking to produce a double-sole. As thus devised the splicing-yarn is thrown into and out of action during each course of circular knitting while the said foot portion is being produced. That isto say, this yarn when temporarily elevated by its guide to the inactive or floating position will freely enter the well-rounded continuously open throat 6 (Fig. 3) and be arrested by said finger e; the thus floating yarn now remains in the throat during the next half-revolution of tion through 180 and is then withdrawn lit the cylinder Without breaking away from the fabric. As thus arranged the floating splicing-yarn extends, during the production of each course in which it is employed, diametrically across the needle-cylinder and is temporarily held in said throat during rotafrom the throat by the continuous motion of the cylinder; the succeeding float-yarns being similarly heId and guided until the doublesoling operation is comple-tcd.

It is of course to be understood that during the above described knitting process the binding member A remains stationary in the normally closed position. The means represented in the drawings for opening said member A to freely permit the passage thereunder of the inactive or floating yarn when it is elevated above the normal knit-- ting plane may be described as follows: Referring again to Fig. 6 o't-the drawings,

3 the said tilting-levers f (one for each yarir guide) are arranged sidewise vto one another and supported on the fixed pivot-stud a, each lever being located in the path of the corresponding ribs f", substantially as before stated. It may be added here that the camshat't s makes but one revolution during the production oi the stocking or knitted unit. It is to be observed also that when the frontendol any one of the levers, f, bears directly upon the dru ms surface theeorresponding connection 7, finger and its yarirguide (7 thereby drop or place the yarn in position to be knitted intp the faLu-ic, and when the said leverilbears uponthe raised lugs or ribs of thedrum the yarn guide will be correspondingly elevatcd,'thus rendering the yarn inactive. Both the said positions oi tl1e.yarn-gu1des are represented in Figs. 1 and 2. The said movements of the yarn-guide, &c., have not thus far, how-' :ever, actuated the yarn-binding device A,

the latter remaining normally closed, as indicated in F 1g. I. New, in order to open the said device to receive the inactive or floating yarn the yarnguide is simply quickly elevated at the proper time a short distance above its normally raised position so as to engage the underside of the bar of the operating lever 71 secured to the said member A and string the latter upwardly a corresponding extent. Fig. v 5 shows the thus temporaril I positioned parts. At certain points in he periphery of the drum f, or on one or more of its members f corresponding with the respective places in the knitting where the yarn, or yarns, are to be thrown out of action, are positioned short slightly raised lugs .1: which duringthe rotation of shaft a are adapted to pass under and contact with the .free ends of the levers located in the respective circular paths, thereby causing the lever, or levers as the case may be, to instantly swing its yarn- 'gnide upwardly to engage with and correspondingly elevate the lever Z), substantially as before stated and as shown in said Fig. 5. I ting-cylinder and of the thus elevated and inactive yarn, still connected to the work and to the bobbin,- acts to draw the yarn past the rear ended the plate B and into the bottom of the continuously open space a" and at the same time past the finger e and under the part a of the then raised member A. At the instant'the lug m advances past the lever f the tension of spring 25 depresses the binder thus firmly clamping and holding the yarn between the latter and the adjacent or upper surfaceof the plate, the yarngnide meanwhile dropping back to its normat elevated p'osition termined by its supporting member f, link f, and lever- 7 the atter then bearing upon the corresponding rib 7' See also Fig. 6. When: the cam-shaft in its forward move ment carries the rear end of said rib past the lever the latter drops onto the barrel part ffthereby causing the yarn-guide to drop until arrested by the throat-plate (7 and again introduce the yarn into knitting action. See Fig. 1.

It is obvious that a lug m in one of the circular paths may be positioned with respect to the surfacef of another or adjacent circular path so that the corresponding levers f will be temporarily actuated in opposite directions in a practically simultaneous manner, thereby through the medium of the links f*,. ;members f, &c., causing one yarnguide to open the binder to receive its yarn thereinwhile at the same time the previously held Floating yarn is released from the binder and reintroduced to the needles by the dropping of the other yarn-guide. In the ordinary knitting operations. however, the yarn is retained in the binder until theflropped guide is positioned upon the throat-plate and the yarn well engaged by theneedles at which instant. the pulling {see Fig. 1) as de-' the yarn to freely ing the floating yarns,

hold it between said members,

.ating arm secured to the clamping member having. its lifting or opening movements when in use to form a device for mentin excess of that given to the guides in placing the yarn in said normal inoperative position so as to open the device and permit enter therein.

5. Inanautomatic knitting-machine of the character described, a binding device for inactive varns, the same comprising a suit-.

ably mounted bottom member for supportmember having a portion thereof normally engaging said bottom member, means for actuating'the device at predetermined points in the knitting operation so as to receive the inactlve yarn and securely hold it. between said members, and means assoc ated with the device for temporarily positioning and supporting a floating splicing yarn thereon wvhile the device remains in the normally closed position. 7

6. In an automatic knitting-machine of the character described, the combination with a manually controlled pivotally mounted latch-ring, yarn-guides or feeders pivoted in and bodily movable with said ring, and means for actuating the guides at predetermined points in the knitting operation for placing the yarns in the operative andinoperative positions, of a yarn-binding device secured to and bodily movable with the latch-ring, said device comprising a suitablydisposed, lower member adapted to support the inactive yarn, a clamping member cooperating with the lower member arranged'when in use to bear directly upon the thus supported yarn and securely and an opercontrolled by'the yarnguides.

7. In an automatic circular knitting-machine, the combination with the needle-carryingcylinder, means for feeding a yarn to the needles. and a base member located at the rear-of the needles and above the top of the said cylinder having a continuously open recess arranged to receive.a floating yarn, of a com anion member normally resting upon said base member adapted holding the'fl'oating yarn therebetween, and means a coiiperating fellow.

[cooperating with the yarn-feeding means i for actuating said device so as to permit the floating yarn to freely enter therein and also to release it therefrom.

8. In an automatic circular knitting-machine, the combination with the needle-carmeans carried by and movable with the latch-ring for feeding a yarn to said cylinder, and a base member located at the rear of the needles secured to and movable bodily with the latch-ring, of a companion member normally engaging said base member adapted when in use to form a device for holding the floating yarn therebetween, and means cooperating with the yarn-feeding means for actuating said device so as to permit the floating yarn to freely enter therein and also to release it therefrom.

rying cylinder, a pivotally mounted latch ring arranged to swing above the cylinder,

9. In an automatic circular knitting-machine provided .vith a needle-carrying cylinder, a yarn-carrier or feeder, means for actuating the latter so in the normal operative and normal inoperative positions with respect to the needles, and means for imparting to the yarn-carrier at certain predetermined points in the knitting operation a movement upward exceeding that required to place the yarn in said normal inoperative position, in combination as to place its yarn with a yarn-clamping device including in its construction a stationary plate or base mem- Y her and a fellow movable member normally resting thereon and located at the back of the needles, means for actuating the'said movable member of the device so as to re- 

